Girvan FC 1–1 Saltcoats Vics — SJFA West Region Ayrshire District League, 29 Nov 2014

Report by keano

Saltcoats fought out a draw at Girvan against a young Girvan side in Derek Frye's first game in charge, in which he brought in Seamus McGeady in defence and Ross Lundy returned in goal for the holidaying Jim Catterson. In the end a draw was about a fair result as both teams had chances and would have felt hard done to had they lost.

The game kicked off in near perfect conditions and Saltcoats forced a series of corners but each one only found the first defender, Girvan then forced thier way upfeild and David McVittie went close with a shot from the edge of the area. Liam Curren was the player looking most likely to create an opening as at every opportunity he was getting past Clark Boon in the Girvan defence and putting in some good crosses for the forwards to attack and with one of these crosses Chris Black went close testing Colin Robertson in the Girvan goal in 20mins, but it was not all one way and Ross Lundy in the Saltcoats goal was called upon to save from Conor Gracie. Girvan should have taken the lead with thier next attack as a cross from Calum Hamilton was met sweetly by McVittie but the ball went just the wrong side of the post, back to the other end and it was Saltcoats that went close through an effort from Liam Curren who beat the defender and raced in on goal but his shot was well delt with by Robertson in goal who pushed the ball out for a corner, from the resulting corner Saltcoats took the lead when Sean Quinn knocked the ball home at the fifth attempt after some desparate defending by Girvan saving shots from McLelland ,Moan and Quinn twice before Quinn found a way through 1-0 Saltcoats but the lead was only to last a couple of minutes before Girvan levelled things up when Gordon Roberts robbed Ferris of the ball in the mid-division and played a delightfull ball into Jamie McAvoy who beat Lundy to bring the sides back level. As the half drew to a close Sean Forde played in a delightfull ball across the 6 yard line but neither forward could get on the end of it. half time 1-1

The second half started with Girvan on the attack and McAvoy tested Lundy at his near post just 5mins in, and not to be out done Ferris tested Robertson at the other end, Richard Ashworth came on for Girvan and within 2mins went close testing Lundy with a shot from distance, Saltcoats were forced to make a change on the hour mark when Liam Curren picked up a knock and was replaced with Kyle Russell, Thomas McLelland then went close with a header from the edge of the area that went inches wide. On 70mins came the talking point of the game when James Moan was upended in the box and as the Saltcoats players screamed for a penalty, Ref Ingram waved away their shouts and booked Moan for simulation. Girvan at this stage were beginning to get the upper hand and Raymond Milligan who was just on the park for the injured Forde was forced to kick the ball off the line from an Allan Robertson shot, and Billy Arthur twice showed all his experiance to guide the ball out for a goal kick, at the other end Milligan went close with a shot after some good work by Chris Black set him up, and Thomas McLelland also went close  with a goal bound shot was deflected for a corner and the same player played in a delightful ball through the Girvan defence that had Steven Gibson stretching for but to no avail, but the final shot was to fall to the home team when McVittie had Lundy in the Saltcoats goal scrambling across his goal to tip the ball over the bar and salvage a point for the Vics.